Mishawaka resident Thomas J. Hayes died peacefully in his home on Thursday, July 8, 2021, surrounded by his family.
Tom was born in Mishawaka to Thomas A. Hayes and Mary Basil Melton, originally from Sebree, Kentucky on December 31, 1926. He attended five different Mishawaka elementary schools and graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1945. During his senior year, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Tokyo, Japan where he served in the Linguistic Unit.
Upon completion of his military service, he returned to Mishawaka and began working at Studebaker's. The following year, he met Rita LeeVan of South Bend. They were married in 1948 and had three children who survive, George Hayes (Ed Wang) of Los Angeles, Debbie Nemeth, of South Bend, and Terry Hayes (Jim Woznicki) of Chicago.
In 1982, Tom married Jeannie Skelly VanOsdol. Jeannie is the mother of three children, Angie Mannon and Jeff VanOsdol (Christina) of Indianapolis and Eric VanOsdol (Shelly) of La Crosse, WI.
Tom is the grandfather of four, Scott (Sarah), Eric, Mark (Marla), and Dan Futa. He is the step grandfather of Amanda, Dylan, Olivia, Jack, and Charlie Mannon. Tom has eight great grandchildren, Brennen, Ryne, Kylie, Jayden, Evan, Austin, Owen and Izzy.
Tom is also survived by his brother and pal, Robert L. Hayes, of Mishawaka and his life long friend Betty Lou Germano, also of Mishawaka, and several brother and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
In 2015 he participated on an Honor Flight to Washington DC to visit the World War II Memorial and visit with other veterans.
Tom was an active member of many local organizations, including the VFW, Northern Indiana Artists, Achievement Forum, South Bend Press Club, and the Mishawaka High School Alumni Association.
He was self-employed as a patent draftsman, creating the patent designs for hundreds of patents, notably for early computers in the 1970's. His drafting was impeccable and his talent was sought after by patent attorneys local and in Chicago.
Tom was a loving patriarch, husband, father, step-father, grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle and friend. He was an artist and he lived his life artistically.
A memorial service for Thomas will be held Monday, July 12 at 1:00 PM at Palmer Funeral Home-Bubb Chapel, 3910 N. Main Street, Mishawaka. Friends may visit with the family from 11:00 AM until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions for Thomas may be made to Center for Hospice, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545 or Mishawaka High School Athletic Association, 1202 Licolnway East, Mishawaka, IN 46544
Bio from Palmer Funeral Homes
Tom was born in Mishawaka to Thomas A. Hayes and Mary Basil Melton, originally from Sebree, Kentucky on December 31, 1926. He attended five different Mishawaka elementary schools and graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1945. During his senior year, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Tokyo, Japan where he served in the Linguistic Unit.
Upon completion of his military service, he returned to Mishawaka and began working at Studebaker's. The following year, he met Rita LeeVan of South Bend. They were married in 1948 and had three children who survive, George Hayes (Ed Wang) of Los Angeles, Debbie Nemeth, of South Bend, and Terry Hayes (Jim Woznicki) of Chicago.
In 1982, Tom married Jeannie Skelly VanOsdol. Jeannie is the mother of three children, Angie Mannon and Jeff VanOsdol (Christina) of Indianapolis and Eric VanOsdol (Shelly) of La Crosse, WI.
Tom is the grandfather of four, Scott (Sarah), Eric, Mark (Marla), and Dan Futa. He is the step grandfather of Amanda, Dylan, Olivia, Jack, and Charlie Mannon. Tom has eight great grandchildren, Brennen, Ryne, Kylie, Jayden, Evan, Austin, Owen and Izzy.
Tom is also survived by his brother and pal, Robert L. Hayes, of Mishawaka and his life long friend Betty Lou Germano, also of Mishawaka, and several brother and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
In 2015 he participated on an Honor Flight to Washington DC to visit the World War II Memorial and visit with other veterans.
Tom was an active member of many local organizations, including the VFW, Northern Indiana Artists, Achievement Forum, South Bend Press Club, and the Mishawaka High School Alumni Association.
He was self-employed as a patent draftsman, creating the patent designs for hundreds of patents, notably for early computers in the 1970's. His drafting was impeccable and his talent was sought after by patent attorneys local and in Chicago.
Tom was a loving patriarch, husband, father, step-father, grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle and friend. He was an artist and he lived his life artistically.
A memorial service for Thomas will be held Monday, July 12 at 1:00 PM at Palmer Funeral Home-Bubb Chapel, 3910 N. Main Street, Mishawaka. Friends may visit with the family from 11:00 AM until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions for Thomas may be made to Center for Hospice, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545 or Mishawaka High School Athletic Association, 1202 Licolnway East, Mishawaka, IN 46544
Bio from Palmer Funeral Homes
Mishawaka resident Thomas J. Hayes died peacefully in his home on Thursday, July 8, 2021, surrounded by his family.
Tom was born in Mishawaka to Thomas A. Hayes and Mary Basil Melton, originally from Sebree, Kentucky on December 31, 1926. He attended five different Mishawaka elementary schools and graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1945. During his senior year, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Tokyo, Japan where he served in the Linguistic Unit.
Upon completion of his military service, he returned to Mishawaka and began working at Studebaker's. The following year, he met Rita LeeVan of South Bend. They were married in 1948 and had three children who survive, George Hayes (Ed Wang) of Los Angeles, Debbie Nemeth, of South Bend, and Terry Hayes (Jim Woznicki) of Chicago.
In 1982, Tom married Jeannie Skelly VanOsdol. Jeannie is the mother of three children, Angie Mannon and Jeff VanOsdol (Christina) of Indianapolis and Eric VanOsdol (Shelly) of La Crosse, WI.
Tom is the grandfather of four, Scott (Sarah), Eric, Mark (Marla), and Dan Futa. He is the step grandfather of Amanda, Dylan, Olivia, Jack, and Charlie Mannon. Tom has eight great grandchildren, Brennen, Ryne, Kylie, Jayden, Evan, Austin, Owen and Izzy.
Tom is also survived by his brother and pal, Robert L. Hayes, of Mishawaka and his life long friend Betty Lou Germano, also of Mishawaka, and several brother and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
In 2015 he participated on an Honor Flight to Washington DC to visit the World War II Memorial and visit with other veterans.
Tom was an active member of many local organizations, including the VFW, Northern Indiana Artists, Achievement Forum, South Bend Press Club, and the Mishawaka High School Alumni Association.
He was self-employed as a patent draftsman, creating the patent designs for hundreds of patents, notably for early computers in the 1970's. His drafting was impeccable and his talent was sought after by patent attorneys local and in Chicago.
Tom was a loving patriarch, husband, father, step-father, grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle and friend. He was an artist and he lived his life artistically.
A memorial service for Thomas will be held Monday, July 12 at 1:00 PM at Palmer Funeral Home-Bubb Chapel, 3910 N. Main Street, Mishawaka. Friends may visit with the family from 11:00 AM until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions for Thomas may be made to Center for Hospice, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545 or Mishawaka High School Athletic Association, 1202 Licolnway East, Mishawaka, IN 46544
Bio from Palmer Funeral Homes
Tom was born in Mishawaka to Thomas A. Hayes and Mary Basil Melton, originally from Sebree, Kentucky on December 31, 1926. He attended five different Mishawaka elementary schools and graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1945. During his senior year, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Tokyo, Japan where he served in the Linguistic Unit.
Upon completion of his military service, he returned to Mishawaka and began working at Studebaker's. The following year, he met Rita LeeVan of South Bend. They were married in 1948 and had three children who survive, George Hayes (Ed Wang) of Los Angeles, Debbie Nemeth, of South Bend, and Terry Hayes (Jim Woznicki) of Chicago.
In 1982, Tom married Jeannie Skelly VanOsdol. Jeannie is the mother of three children, Angie Mannon and Jeff VanOsdol (Christina) of Indianapolis and Eric VanOsdol (Shelly) of La Crosse, WI.
Tom is the grandfather of four, Scott (Sarah), Eric, Mark (Marla), and Dan Futa. He is the step grandfather of Amanda, Dylan, Olivia, Jack, and Charlie Mannon. Tom has eight great grandchildren, Brennen, Ryne, Kylie, Jayden, Evan, Austin, Owen and Izzy.
Tom is also survived by his brother and pal, Robert L. Hayes, of Mishawaka and his life long friend Betty Lou Germano, also of Mishawaka, and several brother and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
In 2015 he participated on an Honor Flight to Washington DC to visit the World War II Memorial and visit with other veterans.
Tom was an active member of many local organizations, including the VFW, Northern Indiana Artists, Achievement Forum, South Bend Press Club, and the Mishawaka High School Alumni Association.
He was self-employed as a patent draftsman, creating the patent designs for hundreds of patents, notably for early computers in the 1970's. His drafting was impeccable and his talent was sought after by patent attorneys local and in Chicago.
Tom was a loving patriarch, husband, father, step-father, grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle and friend. He was an artist and he lived his life artistically.
A memorial service for Thomas will be held Monday, July 12 at 1:00 PM at Palmer Funeral Home-Bubb Chapel, 3910 N. Main Street, Mishawaka. Friends may visit with the family from 11:00 AM until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions for Thomas may be made to Center for Hospice, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545 or Mishawaka High School Athletic Association, 1202 Licolnway East, Mishawaka, IN 46544
Bio from Palmer Funeral Homes
Inscription
Thomas J Hayes
US Army
World War II
Dec 31 1926
Jul 8 2021
World War II
Victory Medal
The Greatest Generation
Family Members
Half Siblings
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